Watching ?Time for spring work.
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When the spring extensions have started to harden off, it’s time. Mid-spring to early-summer is the busiest time of year for me.
S
You da man Scott!Let’s dissect one branch to discuss the thought process.
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(1) is the leader. It should be thicker than the side branches. I’ll leave the growing tip and more leaves on this one to allow it to continue to extend during the growing season
(2) is a side branch. Right now it’s thicker than the leader. I’ll prune the growing tip and remove a few more leaves. Hopefully I’ll get some back budding when I do - it its in a good place on the branch, I can prune this shoot back to some interior growth.
Other factors
A) Notice that the movement is synchronous and there is up and down movement as well.
B) Branches lower down should be thicker and longer - let the lower branches extend more and keep more leaves than the upper branches. You can completely defoliate the apical branches. They’re very strong
C) There are lots of branch geometries that people build on their trees - make sure that it makes sense for your design. On this one the lower branches come out horizontally and they get more vertical higher on the tree. Nearly 45deg near the apex. Whatever your shooting for, make it systematic - don’t have upward lower shoots and downward upper shoots or branches on one sid elf the tree coming out at a significantly different angle than the other unless its a purposeful part of the design. Otherwise its just looks messy.
S
Thanks. Really well-documented. Thorough. I appreciate the time and effort you put into details within the photos. And the thorough topic coverage in your writing. Excellent helpful insight into tree growth and future-thinking. Mighty fine!
This is material I read over several times...so in sticks and sinks into my more conscious-thinking so I approach trees with a purpose and not just branch cutters.
I will double this question, Scott.@markyscottCan I ask a "novice" question. In the 2nd to last picture you just posted where you're showing where you're going to be cutting the secondary branches back to, is there any reason to wire movement into those branches since they're eventually just going to be cut off? Do they just make the tree look better for the time being
Thanks!
This is an amazing thread! Thank you so very much for sharing all of this with us. It's exciting and informational. I've book marked it to come back to later time and again.
@markyscott REALLY appreciate your threads on how you develop your maple trees. I like that you show us what work you're doing, how you're doing it, and also why you're doing it. It's VERY helpful to a novice like myself.
Can I ask a "novice" question. In the 2nd to last picture you just posted where you're showing where you're going to be cutting the secondary branches back to, is there any reason to wire movement into those branches since they're eventually just going to be cut off? Do they just make the tree look better for the time being
Thanks!
I will double this question, Scott.
I can understand why...
You need your thin branches growing to the length to increase the thickness, than cut back for taper and again...this kind of defoliation plus bending opens them for more light...and back budding.
But does this help you with visual imagination?
BTW thanks for threads like this.
That's what I love about you @markyscott, ANOTHER great explanation. THANKS!Hi Gary and Peter. The movement beyond where I plan to cut back is not so important as that part of the branch will not be retained. But wiring the branches into position is good practice for several reasons. First, the branches “occupy the space” of the final branch allowing you to make better design choices. Wiring them allows you to better visualize the eventual branch structure so that the branches you’re developing can be properly positioned from the get go to achieve your final goal. Finally, it’s good to extend the wire to near the end of the branch so you can ensure the branch ends are getting enough light and not shading the branches underneath.
S